SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State men’s soccer team closes out the regular season Saturday when they host UC San Diego at 7 p.m. for senior night. The match will be streamed to the Pac-12’s YouTube channel.
Aztec Tidbits
- The Aztecs are the only unbeaten team remaining in the Pac-12 (1-0-4).
- SDSU is in third place and can clinch a spot in the Pac-12 Tournament with a win or draw vs. UCSD Saturday. The Aztecs could also qualify if they lose and Cal Poly and UC Riverside draw (they play each other).
- The Aztecs have earned three draws in a row and have a program record eight on the year. With one more draw they will tie the NCAA all-time record (done by six teams).
- Prior to the match, the Aztecs will honor nine seniors: Carson Ballagh, Nic Diana, Avery Huggins, Jonah Kawamura, Andrew Klott, Cedric Ngounou Dylan Presto and Juan Zepeda.
- SDSU leads the Pac-12 in goals allowed average (1.00) and shutouts per game (0.40) in conference play.
- The Aztecs have had a player win a Pac-12 weekly award in three straight weeks (Hutcheon, Diana and M. Mair)
- SDSU elected to rest their regular starters in their last three non-conference matchups, rolling out a completely different starting XI in their last two matches.
- The Aztecs earned a draw on the road against Oregon State and California Baptist, the top two teams in the Pac-12.
- This was the first time CBU had been shutout since 2024, a span of 32 matches.
- SDSU’s 2-2 draw at No. 21 Oregon State in their Pac-12 opener, it was the Aztecs’ first result against a ranked team since tying No. 6 Stanford Oct. 1, 2023 and their first result on the road since Sept. 18 at No. 2 Stanford (0-0). The
- Since the beginning of the 2024 season, SDSU is 18-3-8 (.759) when scoring first and 19-6-10 (.689) when tied or leading at the half.
- 10 different Aztecs have scored and six players have at least two goals. 14 different players have also recorded an assist.
- Four Aztecs have at least 10 points (Orth, Hutcheon, M. Mair and Aguirre). It’s just the second time since 2012 that four or more Aztecs have 10 points or more (also 2023).
- The Aztecs have a program record 20 newcomers in 2026 (12 transfers and eight freshmen).
- 25 of the 27 eligible Aztecs have started this year and 21 of them were making their first ever start for SDSU.
- Due to graduation, transfers and injuries, the Aztecs return just 17.8% of their minutes played from last season’s team. This is the fifth fewest in the nation based on a poll conducted amongst DI men’s soccer sports information directors.
- SDSU is 21-8-6 (.686) in non-conference home matches under Ryan Hopkins (7th season), which includes a 21-7-3 (.726) mark on the SDSU Sports Deck.
- SDSU’s 2026 roster has zero players who scored a goal for SDSU last season and just two players who recorded an assist (Carson Ballagh and Dylan Presto).
- SDSU returns to the Pac-12 in 2026, the league they played in from 2005-2023, after spending the last two years in the WAC as an affiliate member.
- The Pac-12 and The Big West jointly announced a collaborative men’s soccer partnership designed to strengthen and sustain Division I men’s soccer opportunities across the western United States. As part of this strategic partnership, California Baptist, Cal Poly, UC Riverside, and UC San Diego will compete as affiliate members in Pac-12 men’s soccer beginning with the 2026 season.
- SDSU lost just two regular season matches in the WAC in their two years (10-2-3) and won the 2024 regular season championship.
Player Notes
- Max Mair (Dana Point, Calif.) was named the Pac-12 Newcomer of the Week after scoring three goals in SDSU’s two matches last week. He recorded his first career brace vs. Utah Valley Wednesday and then scored SDSU’s first goal at UC Riverside. His 11 points on the year are tied for second on the team (four goals & three assists).
- Gio Aguirre (San Marcos, Calif.) was named one of the top 100 freshmen in the county by Top Drawer Soccer. He scored the tying goal at UC Riverside Saturday, bending in a free kick over the wall from the top of the box.
- Aguirre has 10 points on the year, third on the team, and his four assists are tied for the team lead.
- Aguirre scored both of SDSU’s goals vs. Navy Aug. 23 to become the first Aztec freshman to score two goals in a match since 2022 (CJ Fodrey).
- Goalkeeper Nic Diana (Grayslake, Ill.) leads the Pac-12 in goals allowed average (1.00), save percentage (79.2%) and shutout percentage (40%) in conference play.
- Jaxson Hutcheon (Laguna Beach, Calif.) is tied with Max Mair with five points in conference play.
- Hutcheon leads the team in shot on goal percentage (54.2%), is tied with Nik Orth for the team lead in shots on goal (13).
- Nik Orth (Cologne, Germany) leads the team in goals (5) and points (12).
- Yahir Ocampo-Navarro (Aloha, Ore.) is tied for the team lead with four assists.
- It’s the first time since 2023 five Aztecs have three or more assists.
- Luke Fischer (Highland Ranch, Colo.) recorded his first assist of the season at UC Riverside Saturday.
- Six Aztec field players average at least 70 minutes per match: Luke Fischer (88), Avery Huggins (81), Mattia Boldrini (79), Dylan Presto (75), Carson Ballagh (75) and Jonah Kawamura (70).
- Ballagh, Kawamura and Trujillo Lizárraga were named to the Pac-12 Preseason Impact List. That trio are the team captains this year.
- Trujillo Lizárraga made his season debut at UC Irvine two weeks ago after missing the first 14 matches with an injury.
- Trevor Wilson (Kirkland Wash.) and Dylan Presto (Los Angeles) are the only Aztecs who have been in the program three or more years.
Opponent Notebook (UC San Diego)
The Tritons are 7-6-3 on the year and 1-1-3 in Pac-12 play… They are in fourth place with six points… They are 4-3-1 on the road… They tied California Baptist, who is in first place, 2-2 last Saturday… They are second in the Pac-12 in most defensive categories including goals allowed average (1.25)… Ryan Namdar leads the team with 16 points and seven goals… Goalkeeper Nic Thiele has a goals allowed average of 1.26… Head coach Jon Pascale is in his 19th season at UCSD… The Aztecs are 19-1-0 all-time vs. UCSD… They last played in 2022 with SDSU winning 1-0.
Coach Hopkins Take
“You can’t ask for much more drama than a crosstown showdown on senior night with conference tournament implications on the line. We have to continue to bring our intensity, resiliency and attacking power in order to finish the conference season undefeated and advance to the conference tournament semifinals.”